Rollon supports Skyward and the Orion rocket at EuRoC 2025

Rollon and Skyward Experimental Rocketry, a student association at Politecnico di Milano, marked four years of collaboration. Rollon is providing technical support and motion solutions for the team’s Orion rocket, which will be launched at the 2025 European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), a university-level rocketry competition in Europe.

Orion, the successor to last year’s Lyra, is a hybrid rocket that uses liquid nitrous oxide as an oxidant and a solid fuel grain made of paraffin wax and ABS. Like its predecessors, Orion includes Rollon linear guides on its aerobrakes, a system that regulates speed during flight to reach or approach the target altitude of 3,000 meters. The Rollon guides allow the aerobrake mechanism to operate at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h and under a load of about 20 kg per guide, supporting the precise movement needed for extraction and retraction.

Supporting engineering practice on the ground

In addition to supporting the rocket, Rollon provides motion components for Skyward’s ground testing systems. For the second year, the team is using a test stand for tank mass measurement that incorporates Rollon Compact Rail Plus linear guides, which help ensure consistent and repeatable results.

Investing in the future of aerospace engineering

The partnership between Rollon and Skyward began in 2022 with the successful launch of the Pyxis rocket, followed by Gemini in 2023 – winner of the Technical Award – and Lyra in 2024, which secured another victory at EuRoC. Over time, this collaboration has evolved into a meaningful exchange of expertise between academia and industry, reflecting Rollon’s commitment to supporting young engineering talent and fostering innovation in aerospace technologies.

Looking ahead to EuRoC 2025

After a test launch in Roccaraso, Italy, Skyward will compete in the 2025 European Rocketry Challenge, scheduled for Oct. 9–15 in Constância, Portugal. The team’s Orion rocket will incorporate Rollon motion technology, as in previous launches.

For more information, visit rollon.com.